The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-03-17


TO prevent the destruction of fish b
: dynamite and poisons passed to thir
reading
House bill to define the boundary lin
of Arkansas cOunty passed.
House bill to authorize cities an
towns to issue bonds to purchase building
and build public works passed.
House bill to compel county officers t.
make monthly financial reports to tn
commissioners passed.
House bill to require railroads t.
promptly transport passengers ant
freight passed.
House bill prohibiting the sale or CIV
ing away of whisky on election day
passed
House bill increasing the saloon tax was
taken up.
A committee amendment making the
bond payable "to the State of Texas" IN
stead of to "the county judge" was
adopted
Senator Glasscock offered an amend
ment reducing the license fee from $500 to
1900 and for selling beer from $3.50 to $50.
Senator Burney offered substitute
fixing the saloon tax at $3.50, and beer
license at 500.
Senator Stinson spoke against the sub
stitute, and in favor of Senator Glass
cack's amendment.
| Senator Douglass, of jefferson, favored
the house bill as he believed saloon men
should pay high license.
Senator Simkins made a strong speech
in favor of the bill, reading from the of
fetal report of the governor of Missouri.
showing that an increase in the license of
that state from $3.50 TO $500, while de
creasiug the number of saloons nearly
one thousand, had increased the revenue
about Sl,20OCCo.
Senator BGrEss though; the tax now
levied was high enough, especially on
beer.
Senator Allen opposed the substitute,
and spoke in favor Of the bill Is II came
from the house.
The question recurring upon the adop.
ton OF the substitute /, Was divided. and
the fl st section, fixing the liquor tax at
$3.50, was lost.
Senator Douglass moved 70 strike ont
$3.50 and insert $500 beer license. Lost.
Senator Burney's amendment fixing the
beer license at 500, instead Of $3.50, was
adopted.
The question recurring upon the adOp
ton of Senator GlasscOck's amendment |
reducing the liquor license to $500, Sena-
tor Calhoun offered substitute fixing it |
at $500, AMI it was adopted am made
part of the bill:
Yeas-Senators Allen, Armistead, Bell,
Burgess Burney, Calhoun, Camp, Clai-
bourne, Davis, Douglass, of jefferson;
Douglass, of GraysOn; Frank, Garrison,Jar
Wis, Mcdonald, Simkins, Terrell, Woods,
Woodward. Total, 49,
Nays Abercrombie, Glasscock, Macma-
nus, Stinson, Upshaw. Total, 5.
Absent-Senators Field, Gregg, Harri |
son, Houston, Knittle, Lane, Pope Total,
Z.
The amendment fixing the license on
beer at 800 was made part of the bill. |
Yeas, 81; nays, 4.
Pending further discussion senate ad-
journed till 10 O'Clock day.
TUESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
Roll call; quorum present. Prayer by
the chaplain.
PETITIONS.
BY Senator Houston-From Young |
county regarding the hog law.
BY Senator Douglass-From Sherman |
protesting against high license.
Senator Terrell, for Judiciary committee
No. l, reported favorably limiting else
tions TO change county seats to every five
years unless the county seat should be de-
stroyed by fire or storm; unfavorably pro
hibitng the payment of corporation
laborers and Others by orders on stores;
favorably house bill No. 211 to prevent |
animals from running at large; favorably
house bill No. 3S relative to judgments;
favorably to fix and equalize compensa-
ton OF tax assessors.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
BY Senator Burney-To authorize the
governor to appoint state revenue inspect
tors.
Senator Terrell introduced resolution
to amend article of the constitution so
as to fix the number of supreme court
judges at not less than five, and the Judges
of the court of appeals at three.
The bill validating Greer county certifi-
cases was taken up as unfinished business,
and Senator Terrell resumed his argument
i'll favor of the bill. He contended that
the law Itself, and the arguments made
upon the bill at the time it passed, showed
that it was intended to apply to Greer
county, and therefore locating the certifi
Gates there was a valid act, aud the is
suance of patents regular and legal.
He alluded to the fact that the state had
practically relinquished all claim to Greer
county, and not until the old veterans
went in there was the claim revived and |
strengthened. Prior to that Texas con
crosses had abandoned all hope, and the |
general government had assumed control |
and had the entire county sectionized. !
Now, by reason of the veterans having To- |
Gated their certificates in the county, the
claim of the state had been given new life !
and stood good chance of obtaining it. |
He warned the senate that refusal to
pass the bill, and should the supreme
court annul the patents, it will practically
kill the claim of the state, and she will
lose the territory.
Senator Houston made n strong speech
against the bill, and argued that the mat
ter should be settled by the courts before
which the question is now pending.
Senator Macmanus spoke in favor of
the bill holding that, as the state had no
unappropriated domain outside of Greer
county at the time the certificates were
granted, 1t was certainly the intention of
the law making power to have them locat-
ed there.
Senator Harrison spoke against the bill
and made an eloquent argument in favor
of the report killing the bill.
Senator Burgess made another of his
eloquent speeches in favor of the bill.
Tho rnastrnu ranrrr,,,x 49,.